Tale of the Tape: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment you’ve all been waiting for. After months of anticipation and waiting, it is finally time for your Big Ten Main Event. Live from the sold-out White Out crowd in Happy Valley, it is Iowa vs. Penn State.
Both competitors enter this contest with their hopes up high and their heads down low. The goal for Iowa and Penn State is simple: win the Big Ten Championship. They knew that the path to lifting that trophy in Indianapolis is a long and arduous journey, with one slip-up possibly costing you your season. They stand as massive obstacles in each other’s paths, every game counting for Penn State, especially in a division with Ohio State and Michigan.
These two Big Ten titans know each other very well, playing nearly annually since 2016. Kirk Ferentz has seen the Nittany Lions more times than you can count on one hand. The last time these two met was back in 2021, a grueling 23-20 victory at Kinnick Stadium for the Hawkeyes. This time the stage is set at Beaver Stadium, the famed White Out night game for the Nittany Lions.
In a game that could have postseason implications, here is your tale of the tape ahead of another battle between Iowa and Penn State.
Last Result
Iowa: defeated Western Michigan, 41-10
Penn State: lost to Syracuse, 30-13
Team stats last week
Iowa:
Total offense: 387 yards (133 passing, 254 rushing)
19 first downs
4-of-12 on third downs
Total defense: 239 yards (122 passing, 117 rushing)
Eight first downs surrendered
5-of-16 on first downs allowed
Penn State
Total offense: 383 yards (219 passing, 164 rushing)
19 first downs
7-of-18 on third downs
Total defense: 354 yards (276 passing, 78 rushing)
20 first downs surrendered
5-of-16 on first downs allowed
Quarterback
Cade McNamara, Iowa: 71 passing attempts, 34 completions, 53.5 completion percentage, 417 yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions, 113 rating
Drew Allar, Penn State: 88 passing attempts, 59 completions, 67% completion percentage, 737 yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions, 152.4 rating
Running Backs
Kaleb Johnson, Iowa: 34 attempts, 91 yards, 2.7 yards per carry, one touchdown
Jaziun Patterson, Iowa: 21 attempts, 104 yards, 5 yards per carry, one touchdown
Leshon Williams, Iowa: 19 attempts, 164 yards, 8.6 yards per carry,
Kaytron Allen, Penn State: 42 attempts, 208 yards, 5 yards per carry, two touchdowns
Nicholas Singleton, Penn State: 36 attempts, 154 yards, 4.3 yards per carry, five touchdowns
Receiving Leaders
Luke Lachey, Iowa: 10 catches, 131 yards, 13.1 yards per reception
Erick All, Iowa: seven catches, 81 yards, 11.6 yards per reception, one touchdown
Seth Anderson, Iowa: four catches, 68 yards, 17 yards per reception, one touchdown
Keandre Lambert-Smith, Penn State: 13 catches, 220 yards, 16.9 yards per reception, two touchdowns
Harrison Wallace III, Penn State: 10 catches, 98 yards, 9.8 yards per reception
Tyler Warren, Penn State: 10 catches, 81 yards, 8.1 yards per reception, two touchdowns
Defensive Leaders
Jay Higgins, Iowa: 18 solo tackles, 32 total tackles, three passes defended, one forced fumble
Cooper DeJean, Iowa: 11 solo tackles, 19 total tackles, one pass defended
Sebastian Castro, Iowa: seven solo tackles, 10 total tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, one touchdown
Nick Jackson, Iowa: eight solo tackles, 23 total tackles, one sack, one forced fumble
Abdul Carter, Penn State: six solo tackles, eight total tackles, one sack, one interception
Curtis Jacobs, Penn State: nine solo tackles, 12 total tackles, one sack
Dominic Deluca, Penn State: two solo tackles, seven total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble, one touchdown
Cam Miller, Penn State: seven solo tackles, eight total tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception
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